June 5/05 8:48 am - Mt Hood Cycling Classic: Team Symmetrics Report

Posted by Editoress on 06/5/05

Mt Hood Cycling Classic (NRC)Courtesy Symmetrics Cycling

Svein Tuft Wins Stage 1, 3rd overall after Stage 2

Stage 1: June 2nd

Svein Tuft (Symmetrics Cycling) won the opening 2.5 mile prologue taking the leader's jersey to Stage 2. Tuft posted a time of 5:00.9. Russell Stevenson (Benaroya Research) was 2nd in 5:07.3 and Ryan Trebon (Kona Les Gets) was 3rd with a time of 5:09.1. This stage win marks the first NRC podium Symmetrics has taken since turning pro in 2005.

Top Canadian women included Leah Goldstein (6th in 5:54.5) and Mandy Poitras (10th and 6:05.9)

Stage 2: June 3rd

The Cooper Spur Circuit Race, was a hilly 75 miles with 7000 feet of climbing. The race went from the gun with an early move initiated by Andy Bajidali (Vitamin Cottage), Chuck Coyle (Vitamin Cottage) Ryan Trebon (Kona Les Gets) and Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics). The foursome drove it hard to gain a maximum of 1:45 on field. Each of the four riders placed high in the GC from the prologue with Trebon being the highest.

Just past the midpoint of the stage the break began to see its cracks with Chuck Coyle being the first to go. With three left in the group: Trebon, Bajidali and Pinfold, the attacks began and Trebon beginning to feel the effects of the day. As Trebon started to falter, Pinfold flatted leaving Bajidali by himself.

The Symmetrics squad began the chase and the main field started to splinter with Trebon and Pinfold rejoining the peloton. Scott Moniger (HealthNet) seized the opportunity to attack the field, bridging up to Bajidali who was now solo. With Moniger making it across it was now up to the Symmetrics team to minimize the time loss to keep Tuft in the jersey. Bajidali took the win over Moniger finishing 26 seconds ahead of Tuft who now sits 11 seconds behind Moniger in 3rd place

On the women's side, Leah Goldstein (Trek - Red Truck) took today's hilly stage and now sits 2nd in the GC. Symmetrics' Marni Hambleton finished 5th in today's stage and sits 7th in the GC.

Stage 3a - 10. 5 mile Scenic Gorge TT June 4th

In the TT in the morning on a hard 10.5 miles out and back course Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) won handily over teammate and Espoir phenom Christian Meier (Symmetrics). Tuft set a time of 20:50 which was over 1:10 faster than the previous course record. Christian Meier, at 20 years old, placed a strong 2nd place 38 seconds back also breaking the previous course record. Symmetrics put 4 riders in the top 8 as Brad Fairall had a strong ride at 1:06 back, and a very sick (bronchitis), Eric Wohlberg at 1:07.

The bad luck of the day was experienced by HealthNet rider Scott Moniger. Approximately 50 metres into the TT he broke his chain which took several minutes to repair before he was able to continue.

Stage 3b - Hood River Criterium (60 minutes) June 4th

In the evening the team faced a technical criterium course. The racing was very aggressive and fast from the gun and Symmetrics was able to control the front to protect any GC threats. Andrew Pinfold took the win and Svein Tuft grabbing 3rd. There was no change in the GC following the criterium.

Andrew Pinfold commented "It was one of the harder crits I have done as the course had some very technical sections and a good hill. The team rode as a well oiled unit even when they were getting chopped in the corners. We were constantly dealing with riders coming up the inside on the sharpest corner and many times we were almost taken out. All in all a strong night for us and we are preparing for a very hard day tomorrow. The final stage finishes with a 10 mile climb up to the Cooper Spur Ski Resort and there is no doubt others are going to throw everything at us. We have 3 of 4 stage wins so far and tomorrow will be the toughest stage of the race. Protecting Svein is going to take total team commitment."